Fundamental Duties MCQ Questions and Answers

Rights are rules of interaction between people. They place constraints and obligations upon the actions of the state and individuals or groups. For example, if one has a right to life, this means that others do not have the liberty to kill him or her. But the rights have real meaning only if individuals perform duties. A duty is something that someone is expected or required to do. Parents, for example, have a duty to take care of their child.

Statement a is incorrect. Duties are closely associated with rights in liberal thought. The nature and degree of this association, however, has greatly differed. In preliberal societies where persons were caught in social roles, and people were not free to pursue their choices, duties ordered their lives. Liberal transportation led to stress on rights and duties were seen as correlated to rights. If a person possessed rights, then others – be it individuals, groups or the state as the case may be, were invested with a determinate set of duties to protect and promote those rights. If I have a right to physical security, others have a duty not to violate or assault such security and if it was violated or assaulted, the state is duty bound to come to my protection. This correspondence between rights and duties which led to the effective collapsing of duties within rights has been challenged from within liberal thought as well as from outside its framework.

Statement b is correct. Conservatives stress on duties and the grounds they adduce for the same vary markedly. Their mainstream arguments, however, are clear. Social institutions and mores are formed through the efforts of several preceding generations. Conservatives link duty with a set of values such as trust, loyalty, dedication, cooperation, obedience and satisfaction with one’s station in life. They stress the limitedness of human understanding and the reach of human reason and scrutiny. Maintenance of the existing social order and its preservation often remains their battle cry. They may not be against certain reforms, but such reforms need to be firmly based upon existing order and its continuation. Conservatives, by focusing on centrality of duty, have decried the stress on rights in liberal and radical thought-currents.

Statement c is correct. Gandhi speaks of rights in the context of duties and that is his distinctiveness; he considers ‘real rights as a result of performance of duty’ meaning, that all rights to be deserved and preserved as rights is derived from duties which are performed well. Rights cannot be divorced from duties and that rights have to be exercised in the interests of all. The concept of duty, for Gandhi, is derived from the idea of dispassionate action which the Bhagavad Gita advocates.

Statement d is correct. In Marxist thought, there was no such thing as rights without duties and vice versa, as Marx put it in his draft for the ‘‘Rule of the First International.’’ Such a view was built on a notion of ‘‘active’’ citizenship in which only engaged, productive, and cooperative citizens were guaranteed material support for the realization of their rights.

Fundamental Duties means that the citizens in addition to the enjoyment of rights, also have certain obligations to be performed as well. In 1976, ten fundamental duties of citizens were added in the Constitution. In 2002, one more Fundamental Duty was added.

Statement d is correct. One of the fundamental duties include “to cherish and follow the noble ideals that inspired the national struggle for freedom”.

Statement a is incorrect. The Preamble to the Indian Constitution is based on the ‘Objectives Resolution’, It gives idea about:(a) Source of authority of the Constitution, (b) Nature of Indian State: like democratic, socialistic etc., (c). Objectives of the Constitution: like justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, and (d) Date of adoption of the Constitution.

Statement b is incorrect. The Fundamental Rights aims at establishing ‘a government of laws and not of men’ i.e., prevents any Authoritarian regime in the country, by protecting the liberties and freedoms of the people against the invasion by the State. They are aimed at limiting the powers of government.

Statement c is incorrect. The phrase ‘Directive Principles of State Policy’ refers to the ideals that should be followed by the State while enacting laws and framing policies.

Statement 1 is correct. The Indian Constitution gives primacy to Rights over Duties. While the Fundamental Rights are protected by Judicial Review (Article 13) and defended by the Supreme Court (justiciable under Article 32) in the Constitution, the Fundamental Duties are contained in Part IV-A (Article 51A) are non-Justiciable.

Statement 2 is correct. In a democracy, Rights and duties are inextricably linked. Rights and duties of the citizens are correlative and inseparable. The citizen’s exercise of their rights and freedoms is inseparable from the performance of their duties and obligations. Rights of citizens as a whole means that individuals have a duty to make small sacrifices of personal liberty (e.g. “reasonable restrictions” mentioned as limitations to rights in Part III) so that the peace and welfare of others is not curtailed – only then can everyone enjoy a basic common level of rights.

Statement 3 is incorrect. Mahatma Gandhi believed in both rights and duties. However, as evident from his writings in his book Hind Swaraj, he believed Duties are slightly more important. Gandhi stated that, ‘perform your duties and rights will not be far to seek’.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Part IVA of the Constitution of India deals with the Fundamental Duties. The Fundamental Duties are confined to citizens only and do not extend to foreigners.

Statement 2 is correct. Like the Directive Principles, the fundamental duties are also non-justiciable. The Constitution does not provide for direct enforcement of the Fundamental Duties by the courts.

Statement 3 is correct. There is no legal sanction against violation of the Fundamental Duties. At the same time, the Parliament is free to enforce the Fundamental Duties by suitable legislation.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Fundamental Duties were added to the Constitution by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1976. They were added on the recommendations about fundamental duties by Sardar Swaran Singh Committee. The amendment added Part IVA to the Constitution. Part IVA consists of only Article 51A, with 11 fundamental duties for the citizens.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution are inspired by the Soviet Constitution.

The Fundamental duties were incorporated to emphasize the obligation of the citizen in exchange for the Fundamental Rights that he or she enjoys. The Fundamental Duties were incorporated in Part IV-A of the Constitution by the Constitution 42nd Amendment Act, 1976. According to Article 51A, it shall be the duty of every citizen of India:

• to value and preserve the rich heritage of the country’s composite culture; Hence, statement 1 is correct.

• to develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform; Hence, statement 3 is correct.

• to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement; Hence, statement 4 is correct.

To protect the weaker sections from social injustice has not been enshrined in the Fundamental Duties. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Fundamental duties are not enforceable in a court of law. Parliament has not provided penalty or punishment for the imposition of Fundamental Duties. Swarna Singh committee recommended inclusion of a provision whereby Parliament can impose punishment for the non-compliance of Fundamental Duties. This recommendation was not accepted and hence there is no provision for enforcement of Fundamental Duties.

Statement 2 is incorrect. There is no correlation of fundamental duties with a legal duty. For example, one of the Fundamental Duty is to promote Scientific and Rational Temper and other is to Strive Towards Excellence, but there is no law which mandate it to be done.

Rights and duties of the citizens are correlative and inseparable. The citizen’s exercise of their rights and freedoms is inseparable from the performance of their duties and obligations.

Option b is incorrect. Rights can be personal as well as community rights (Article 26). They are not independent of society or duties but are correlated with the duties.

Option c is incorrect. Both rights and duties are important for the advancement of an individual. Rights are given to the citizens for their individual moral, material or personality development and growth in social life.

Option d is incorrect. Both rights and duties are important for the stability of a state. One cannot enjoy a right if others do not obey their duties.

Statement 1 is correct. Some of the fundamental duties are moral duties while others are civic duties. For instance, cherishing noble ideals of freedom struggle is a moral precept and respecting the Constitution, National Flag and National Anthem is a civic duty.

Statement 2 is correct. There is no legal sanction against the violation of any of the fundamental duty.

Statement 1 is correct. The Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 prohibits trade in rare and endangered species. It gives effect to the duty to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures.

Statement 2 is correct. The Representation of People Act (1951) provides for the disqualification of members of the Parliament or a state legislature for promoting enmity between different sections of people on grounds of caste, race, language, religion and so on. It gives effect to the duty to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities

Statement 3 is correct. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act (1971) prevents disrespect to the Constitution of India, the National Flag and the National Anthem. It gives eff ect to the duty to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem.

Option (a) is incorrect. Duty to pay taxes is not a fundamental duty.

Option (b) is incorrect. Duty to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India was added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1976).

Option (c) is correct. The duty to provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of six and fourteen years was added by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002.

Option (d) is incorrect. Duty to safeguard public property and to abjure violence was added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1976).

According to Article 51A of the Indian constitution, it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to abide by the fundamental duties.

Statement 1 is correct: The original constitution contained only the fundamental rights and not the fundamental duties.

Statement 2 is correct: Framers of the Indian constitution incorporated the duties of the State in the Constitution in the form of Directive Principles of State Polity. Later in 1976, the fundamental duties of citizens were added to the Constitution. In 2002, one more Fundamental Duty was added.

In 1976, the Congress Party set up the Sardar Swaran Singh Committee to make recommendations about fundamental duties, the need and necessity of which was felt during the operation of the internal emergency (1975–1977).

Statement 1 is incorrect: The committee recommended the inclusion of a separate chapter on fundamental duties in the Constitution. The Swaran Singh Committee suggested the incorporation of eight Fundamental Duties in the Constitution; the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1976) included ten Fundamental Duties.

Statement 2 is correct: certain recommendations of the Committee were not accepted by the Congress Party and hence, not incorporated in the Constitution. Committee suggested that the Parliament may provide for the imposition of such penalty or punishment as may be considered appropriate for any non-compliance with or refusal to observe any of the duties.

Statement 3 is correct: Certain recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee were not accepted by the Congress Party and hence, not incorporated in the Constitution. These include: The Parliament may provide for the imposition of such penalty or punishment as may be considered appropriate for any non-compliance with or refusal to observe any of the duties. No law imposing such penalty or punishment shall be called in question in any court on the ground of infringement of any of Fundamental Rights or on the ground of repugnancy to any other provision of the Constitution.

Duty to pay taxes should also be a Fundamental Duty of the citizens.

Like the Directive Principles, the fundamental duties are also non-justiciable. The Constitution does not provide for their direct enforcement by the courts. Moreover, there is no legal sanction against their violation. However, Parliament is free to enforce them by suitable legislation.

Here both Assertion and Reason are correct but it is nowhere mentioned that due to absence of legal sanctions against violations of fundamental duties parliament can enforce fundamental duties.

The Verma Committee on Fundamental Duties of the Citizens (1999) identified the existence of legal provisions for the implementation of some of the fundamental duties.

Option a is incorrect. Thungon Committee: In 1988, a sub-committee of the Consultative Committee of Parliament was constituted under the chairmanship of P.K. Thungon to examine the political and administrative structure in the district for the purpose of district planning.

Option b is incorrect. Sarkaria Commission: was set up in 1983 by the central government to examine the centralstate relationship.

Option c is incorrect. Ranganath Misra Commission: National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities, also called as Ranganath Misra Commission was constituted by Government of India in 2004 to look into various issues related to Linguistic and Religious minorities in India.

Statement 1 is correct. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister, justified the inclusion of fundamental duties in the Constitution and argued that their inclusion would help to strengthen democracy. But, the Opposition in the Parliament strongly opposed the inclusion of fundamental duties in the Constitution by the Congress government.

Statement 2 is incorrect. However, the new Janata Government headed by Morarji Desai in the postemergency period did not annul the Fundamental Duties and no such bill was moved. This shows that there was an eventual consensus on the necessity and desirability of including the Fundamental Duties in the Constitution. This is more clear with the addition of one more Fundamental Duty in 2002 by the 86th Amendment Act.